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Feeding nightmare - please help!

7 replies

fejkalove · 28/07/2022 12:06

Hello,

I'm going out of my mind at the moment but hoping someone may be able to offer some advice:
To summarise; DD was born at 36 weeks due to IUGR weighing 4lb 11, we had some problems with feeding initially but has since been draining 120mls 6 times a day (albeit has hiccups after every feed!). We are using MAM bottles with size 2 teats as she got used to the fast flow of hospital teats early on. All was going well until a few weeks ago when she started mid feed refusing the milk. She thrashes her head side to side but sometimes still seems desperate to get the teat in her mouth (starts sucking but again thrashes about). She was still taking a few full bottles a day but now I'm lucky if she finishes one. She's taking around 50-60mls each feed. She sleeps 7 hours at night and I'd have thought she'd be desperate for a feed in the morning but again I'm lucky if she'll take 60mls.

I took her to get weighed yesterday and whilst she has gained 3oz, she has started to drop centiles. HV advised feeding every 1.5 hours but this doesn't solve the problem and LO doesn't always want it.
I've tried buying every teat under the sun over the last few weeks (size 3 are too fast and she struggles with the flow and the X teats again are far too quick). I'm worried sick she won't eat, feeding has become so stressful.

Thank you to anyone with any input.

OP posts:
Ready4Primary · 28/07/2022 12:10

Hey, how old is she now?

It could be a bottle aversion.,.my daughter had one and ended up with a feeding tube. You need to take the pressure off during feeds, trust her to take what she needs.

There's a fantastic group on Facebook I'll post a pic. If it is a bottle aversion I found reading Rowena Bennett's book very helpful (actually it was why we got my daughter off her feeding tube!)

Ready4Primary · 28/07/2022 12:11

Here it is:

Feeding nightmare - please help!
fejkalove · 28/07/2022 12:12

Ready4Primary · 28/07/2022 12:10

Hey, how old is she now?

It could be a bottle aversion.,.my daughter had one and ended up with a feeding tube. You need to take the pressure off during feeds, trust her to take what she needs.

There's a fantastic group on Facebook I'll post a pic. If it is a bottle aversion I found reading Rowena Bennett's book very helpful (actually it was why we got my daughter off her feeding tube!)

Hi,

Sorry I didn't state! She's nearly 13 weeks now.
That's what worries me that she'll end up in hospital Sad
Great thank you for sharing x

OP posts:
Ready4Primary · 28/07/2022 12:12

Upon re-reading your post i would definitely say bottle aversion, join the group, read the book- it will help you soooooo much.
I promise x

Good luck , I know how worrying this can be. You'll get through it!

Ready4Primary · 28/07/2022 12:14

(Definitely don't offer her feeds every 1.5 hours, that's even more pressure!)

CoalCraft · 28/07/2022 13:59

So she starts feeding fine but then starts thrashing partway through? To me that sounds like feeding is causing her pain for some reason. Could be due to wind (in which case a mid-feed burp ought to help) or reflux, or something exogenous like the milk being just a little too hot.

fejkalove · 28/07/2022 14:32

CoalCraft · 28/07/2022 13:59

So she starts feeding fine but then starts thrashing partway through? To me that sounds like feeding is causing her pain for some reason. Could be due to wind (in which case a mid-feed burp ought to help) or reflux, or something exogenous like the milk being just a little too hot.

She feeds great for the first part - doesn't seem too windy or at least no 'obvious' wind sign (bringing legs to chest) I've tried infacol anyway but hasn't seemed to do anything. We use a prep machine but also use lukewarm ready to feed bottles when out so I don't think it's temperature? Would colief potentially help? I'll literally try anything 😫 I've noticed her stomach really bubbles/gurgles whilst she's drinking and to me it sounds uncomfortable but I'm not sure if that's just standard digestive sounds?

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